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Dementia and Cerebrovascular Disease

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Brain and Heart Dynamics

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Abstract

The prevalence of dementia is continuously increasing worldwide in aging population. Although neurodegenerative changes account for the majority of dementias, one common etiology shared among all forms is cerebrovascular dysfunction at some point during the disease process. The main aim of this chapter is to summarize the current findings in the field and address the mechanisms of vascular brain damage and its contribution to cognitive impairment in these conditions. We review the historical steps of research, the main issues regarding terminology, and the epidemiological aspects of vascular dementia. We then focus on the role of classical and novel risk factors, and that of chronic inflammation, and describe the various subtypes of vascular dementia with the underlying pathological correlates. The role of hypoxia, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and blood–brain barrier permeability in disease etiology and progression is also discussed. Finally, the issue of mixed dementia (or, as it is now proposed, mixed Alzheimer’s disease), often encountered in clinical practice, is also reported, along with the various clinical pictures of amyloid angiopathies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Cognitive and Behavioral Disorders, National Institute of Neurology IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy

    Giulia Perini, Matteo Cotta Ramusino, Sara Bernini & Alfredo Costa

  2. Department of Brain and Behavior, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Giulia Perini, Matteo Cotta Ramusino & Alfredo Costa

Authors
  1. Giulia Perini
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  2. Matteo Cotta Ramusino
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  3. Sara Bernini
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  4. Alfredo Costa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alfredo Costa .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Sect, University of Pavia, Dept of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Sect, Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Stefano Govoni

  2. Dept of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia Dept of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Pierluigi Politi

  3. Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Department of Molecular Medicine, Pavia, Pavia, Italy

    Emilio Vanoli

Section Editor information

  1. IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy

    Roberto Bergamaschi

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Perini, G., Ramusino, M.C., Bernini, S., Costa, A. (2019). Dementia and Cerebrovascular Disease. In: Govoni, S., Politi, P., Vanoli, E. (eds) Brain and Heart Dynamics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90305-7_29-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90305-7_29-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-90305-7

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